Books – The Winter Edition
Books in Review – I’m well on my way to my goal of fifty books for 2025. As mentioned, I “lost” the ability to focus on reading books during the pandemic and divorce, so this is pure joy to be able to get so lost in a book. I carry one in my bag everywhere I go. I’ve missed a Tube stop more than once engrossed in my book. I have an Audible and a Kindle one as well. A fiction and a non-fiction. I’m obsessed with reading again, much like my teenage self who took a class period in high school as a library aide, and devoured countless romance novels.
Let’s go! The Book List
1. The It Girl (Audible), Ruth Ware – An entertaining psychological thriller set in the U.K. about university aged students. A twisted tale. I enjoyed it on many a London Tube.
2. My Family and other Animals, Gerald Durrell – This is such an interesting memoir from back in time, about a single British mother traveling with her large brook of young adult children. This particular book is set one year they lived on the Greek island of Corfu. It’s from the youngest boy’s perspective, who was obsessed with collecting and studying wildlife. It’s quirky and extremely descriptive (found myself skimming large paragraphs). How did she have money to do this? She clearly didn’t work outside of the house (and that entailed a lot of work!).
3. Marriage Sabbatical (Kindle) – Once again I’m drawn to any tale that features 50-something year old protagonists, empty nest, and marital woes! I really enjoyed the read, but having had my own life upended by an affair, I feel it’s playing with fire to believe that a married couple can go “explore” and come back together.
Reading this book twice!
4. Meditations for Mortals, Oliver Burkeman – This is one of the best, relevant books for me with short daily chapters/lessons. My mom gave it to me for Christmas. I love the chapter on the three to four hour work day (for creatives). It takes away the guilt of expectations. I’ve always found I work best in shorter, focused intense bursts of creative inspiration. This all about letting go of control and accepting the present moment. This is so good, I’m reading it a second time.
Books – Short Stories
5. Five Tuesdays in Winter, Lily King – A collection of short stories. She is a powerful storyteller creating vivid characters and worlds. Easy to sit down to read one story at a time.
6. Lives of the Wives, Carmela Ciurarn – non fiction – While the stories of writers are incredibly interesting, it reads a bit dry. Fictionalized, each of these stories have the story to be quite powerful. I do find each character extremely unlikable – cheaters, abusers, addicts… the list goes on! The final chapter on writer Roald Dahl and his actress wife Patricia Neal was extraordinary. What tortured souls. Such tragedy! I found the writing practices of all of the writers fascinating. Roald reinforced what I read in Meditations for Mortals about working consistenly 3-4 hours a day. The max for a creative. I definitely find this to be true!
Getting Lost in a Book
7. Search History, Amy Taylor – This one I immediately thought I’d save for niece and daughter. I was hooked in the first chapter. Very fresh and current.
8. Roman Year, Andre Aciman – From the author of Call Me By Your Name, this is a beautifully written memoir, evocatively describing his time as a refugee from Egypt in Rome as a teenaged boy. It’s slow paced, but I’m able to sink into a chapter as if walking about Rome on a hot summer’s day. I wasn’t ready for it to end.
More Books I read in London
9. Blue Sisters, Coco Mellors – I loved the locations of both L.A. and London (mainstays of my nomadic lifestyle). The characters are well developed, but I find them all unlikable. The notion of familial ties and sisterhood is strong. This was the focus of a many a Waterstones window in London.
10. The Midnight Library, Matt Haig – Thought provoking about the different paths and forks in the road that lead to different lives. Quick read.
11. Sandwich (Audible) – Catherine Newman – The author captures the time of life sandwiched between empty nest and elderly parents. She describes menopause and fifty-something ailments better than anyone I’ve read! Not a lot actually happens. It’s more of a slice of life (or slice of sandwich bread!). Many laugh out loud, relatable moments.
Oh, My, is There a Pattern Here?
12. Evidence of the Affair (Audible), Taylor Jenkins Reid – I’ll read anything she writes. This is a short one. Got me through my recent bout of Covid, London style. I clearly still am drawn to other’s suffering through spouse’s affairs. Commiserating?
13. Trust, Hernan Diaz – This was recommended at the Amnesty Charity bookshop in Kentish Town and I couldn’t resist it’s tattered, well worn pages. Pulitzer Prize 2023, Booker Prize Longlist 2022. Quite the pedigree. Four variations of the same story from different perspectives. Intriguing! I devoured it on the Tube, and returned it as a donation back to the Amnesty bookshop in two weeks!
14. The Affair, Hilary Boyd – Hmmm, something of a pattern going on this quarter. Reading about other’s affairs and misdeeds. It pulls me in like a dark web of intrigue after just barely surviving my own divorce based on hubby’s. Picked this up at the charity shop as well. This is an unusual perspective of an emotionally neglected 60-something year old British woman finding attention with a younger suitor.
I do love a psychological thriller
15. The Switch, Lily Samson (Audible) – Another twisted psychological thriller set in the U.K. (I love reading books in the locations I’m living, while I’m catsitting here). This is deliciously implausible and cringe inducing and yet can’t stop reading. Or listening I should say. This was pulsing in my ears on many a Tube or walk around London, or playing in the house around Ginger the cat (cover your sweet ears!).
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